The University of Queensland has opened a new lab designed to test the efficiency and security of power networks.

The UQ Industry 4.0 Energy TestLab, is one of six similar facilities around the country and will provide information for power systems to better defend against cyber-attacks and assist with the transition to renewable energy.

The TestLab is expected to begin research for private clients from next year.

The Federal Government has signed two new agreements to release potential COVID-19 vaccines in Australia next year.

The agreements will see Australia receive 40 million doses of a vaccine developed by Novavax and an additional 10 million doses developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.

Both vaccines are currently in stage three clinical trials, and will only arrive in Australia if proven safe and effective.

A Victorian Member of Parliament was among the hundreds of people fined by Victorian Police for taking part in Tuesday’s anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne.

Liberal Democratic MP David Limbrick says the group should have been allowed to protest, despite Victoria’s ban on large gatherings in response to COVID-19.

Police made over 400 arrests at the event and issued penalty infringement notices for breaches including not wearing a mask and traveling more than 25 kilometres from their home.

Ethiopia could be on the brink of civil war after Prime Minister Ariy Ahmed sent troops into the Tigray region in the north of the country.

Mr. Ahmed made the order after a reported attack on the army by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Tensions have been high in the region for months but have rapidly escalated in the past few days with both sides accusing the other of trying to incite a military conflict.

The United States has today formally withdrawn from the Paris Agreement after President Donald Trump announced his intentions to do so in 2017.

189 countries remain committed to the agreement, which requires countries to set their own targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The United States has the world’s second-highest rates of carbon emissions behind only China.

Pet parrot alerts owner of Brisbane house fire before smoke detectors, both escaping uninjured.

Resident Anton Ngyuen was alerted by his pet parrot, Eric, calling Anton’s name and saving them from the fire.

The house in Kangaroo Point was engulfed in flames, and an investigation is underway

The damages from Queensland’s Halloween hailstorm climbed to $110 million and will continue, insurers have warned victims of potential scammers.

The hailstorm left 95,000 households without power and some Ipswich residents saw tennis-ball sized hailstones.

Chief executive of Insurance Council of Australia, Andrew Hall, said ‘disaster chasers’ had been door knocking throughout the worst-effected areas

Thousands of small and medium-sized business have been using QR ‘quick response’ codes for COVID-19 tracing but privacy and cybersecurity experts are sounding their alarms on personal data concerns.

As thousands of venues reopen in Victoria, after three months of lockdown, experts warn the lack of due diligence in vetting providers has left the system vulnerable.

Europe’s COVID-19 cases reach over 11 million infections and 285,000 have died, Austria and Greece are the latest to impose lockdown.

Greece shut down major cities and Austria went into partial lockdown joining Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland in re-imposing lockdowns.

The restrictions have affected the economy, livelihood and general wellbeing of all Europe’s residents, experts say, Europe risks being hit with a further wave of infection if no vaccine is found.